Los Angeles Ale Works Debuts Thai Tea Kolsh + Craft Soda Mixology

No worries if you're like us and you missed the first tapping of Los Angeles Ale Works' second-ever released beer at City Tavern on Sunday night. Not only are kegs of the Thai-tea-infused Karma Kolsh already on tap at bars from Downtown to Santa Monica, but the rest of July is also full of L.A. Aleworks-hosted "Beer Appreciation Nights" where owners and brewers Kip Barnes and John Rockwell will be around to give tasting notes, answer questions and talk shop about their in-the-works permanent home.

As one of the Weekly's 6 Breweries to Watch, we have been keeping an eye on Barnes and Rockwell's passion project: from their years of college homebrewing to last year's decision to gypsy brew, to their March brewery Kickstarter campaign, which garnered $13,000 more than the goal and became the city's first successfully crowdfunded beer operation.

But even with money, building a brewery is no easy task. So while the pair awaits the delivery of keg washers and conical fermenters for their own Mid-City space, they continue to brew with Ohana, the same place that helped them release their first ever production beer four months ago, a roggenbier called Gams-Bart.

It is in L.A. Aleworks' continued spirit of uncommon beer styles and unique flavor concoctions that Karma Kolsh was created. A cross between Barnes' homemade Ketsara Thai tea craft soda and a soon-to-be-signature LAAW beer called Das Kolsch, the Karma Kolsh is a sweet and spicy take on the easy-drinking German style. Some have said it tastes like a snickerdoodle cookie, but we like to think of it as less dessert and more full meal with gentle notes of chai, vanilla and cinnamon that is perfect for chugging after an afternoon yoga sesh.

Tonight, the beer debuts at Far Bar in Little Tokyo and will make its way to Beer Belly, Flying Pig, Mohawk Bend and The Glendale Tap before Barnes and Rockwell host a special month-capping event at the Craft and Folk Art Museum where all of their craft sodas (along with those from other soon-to-be L.A. breweries) will be paired with spirits from Downtown L.A.'s Greenbar Collective to make locals-only cocktails unlike any other.